Knife-sharpening device



Feb. 1l, 1930. n.1'. HENNEssY 1,746,353

KNIFE SHARPENING DEVICE Filed June .16, 1927 Patented Feb. 141:, 193C `UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE RICHARD T. HENNESSY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN SLICING- MACHINE COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK KNIFE-SHARPENING DEVICE Application led .Tune 16,

My invention relates to a knife sharpening device for application to and combination with a rotary slicing machine. One object is the provision of such a knife sharpener which shall be ayailable for sharpening a manually operated slicing knife. Another object is the provision of a housing for such sharpening means. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the spec-iiication and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of the complete device as appliedto a slicing machine having a rotary knife;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure l; p

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure i is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5`is a section on the line-5v5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a` section on the line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

A generally indicates a slicing machine 'structure having a motor A1 and a rotary knife A2 -driven thereby. A3 is the knife shaft with the pulley A4 about which passes the belt A5 to the motor A1. f

B is a cylindrically formed portion of the structure in which is positioned a bearing sleeve B1 having roller bearings B2 at either end thereof rotatably to support the shaft Mio C indicates an outward extension of the `shaft which has mounted thereon a grinding element C1 cupped as at C2. C3 is a second grinding element cupped in opposition to the cupped portion of the first. C4 is an inclined sided steel disc positioned between the two grinding members. The assembly is held to- 1927. Serial No. 199,207.

gether on the shaft C by means of a left hand housing member D which is secured to the frame by means of the circumferential iiange D1 and the screws D2. Its outer end is closed by the slightly convex member D3 and it is cut away or slotted `on its upper side, as at D4, in order to give access to the Sharpener.

As a closure for said cuteawayportion I employ the rotary cylindrical shutter E which is also cut away, in opposition to the cutaway portion D4, as at El. Vhen the shutter is rot-ated into closing position the aperture Dlv is closed by the shutter and the aperture El of the shutter is closed by the housing D. Then it is ldesired to have access to the knife the shutter is so moved that the apertures D4E and El are in alignment. In order to limit the rotation of the shutter I `employ any suitable stop, herein shown as the screw E2 which engages the outer edge of the aperture D4 and serves the double function of preventing outward axial movement of the shutter and of limiting 'its rotation. The end wallsof the aperture D4 are recessed as at E3, in opposition to the screw E2, to permit an exact alignment of the edges of the apertures D4 and El. In order to prevent any foreign particles from entering the ball bearing B2 I provide `a felt packing F, held in position by an apertured disc F1, having a plurality of inclined spring fingers F2, adapted to wedge against the cylindrical housing B as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

Itwll be realized that whereas I have shown and described a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limitingyme to my specific dis-- closure.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

It often happens in the use of a slicing machine of the type herein described that the butcher or delicatessen shop keeper wishes to cut some material with a hand knife, butcher knife or the like. It is therefore desirable to provide means for sharpening such knives and it is an economy to operate such sharpening means from the power plant of the slicing machine. Such sharpening can take place While the slicing machine is actually slicing, or if necessary the slicing machine motor may be actuated in order to permit the operator to avail himself of the sharpening device.

In order to employ the sharpening device the shutter E is moved into the open position with its aperture El overlying the aperture D. The operator then inserts the blade of the knife between the members C1 and C4 or C3 and C4, the steel disc C4 serving as a guide to thrust the edge at the desired angle against the opposed recessed grinding disc.

I claim:

l. In combination with a shaft and a motor for driving it, and a bearing about said shaft, a knife sharpening device mounted upon the end of said shaft, said knife sharpening device including an inclined sided steel disc and a plurality of cupped abrasive elements mounted one at each side of said disc, and a generally cylindrical housing `about said sharpening device, said housing being cut away about a portion of its periphery, and a rotary cap, concentric with said housing and rotatable thereabout, said cap including an extension concentric with the wall of said housing and conforming thereto and adapted to close the cut away portion of said housing, said shaft terminating within said housing and being enclosed by saidv cap.

2. In combination with a shaft and a motor for driving it, and a bearingabout said shaft, a knife sharpening device mounted upon the end of said shaft on the opposite side of said bearing from the rotary knife, said knife sharpening device including an inclined sided steel disc and a plurality of cupped abrasive elements mounted one at each side of said disc, the flanges of said cups terminating in faces lying each in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft, said planes each intersecting one inclined side of the disc, and a generally cylindrical housing about said sharpening device, said housing being cut away about a portion of its periphery, and a rotary cap, concentric RICHARD T. I-IENNESSY. 

